STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 2020 BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2020

President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to participate in this segment of the High- Level Summit convened ahead of the 15th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

2. I am aware that the objective of the summit is to mobilize greater support and enhanced action at the highest levels of Government, Industry, Academia and Civil Society against Biodiversity loss.

3. This Summit presents a unique opportunity for each of us, as global leaders, to demonstrate measurable commitment to accelerate action toward the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Indeed, negligence in renewing our commitment to halt the ongoing destruction of nature and nature-based solutions will seriously threaten our collective existence in the post Covid-19 era. 4. I am concerned that the attainment of national developmental priorities as well as internationally agreed developmental aspirations would be hampered if the critical value of biodiversity and ecosystem services are not recognized and appreciated by our citizens.

5. Nigeria, like other countries, has wide array of rich and valuable national heritage that include, impressive network of wetlands, wildlife, and forestry resources. Regrettably, most of the indigenous flora and fauna commonly found within the country are becoming endangered and facing extinction.

6. To reverse this situation, we have developed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan as an enabler for integrating biodiversity considerations into sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, plans and programmes at all levels of government.

7. We are reviewing our biodiversity-related laws and developing shelterbelts across 11 States in the country. In addressing biodiversity loss, we are implementing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme in Ogoniland.

8. The on-going clean-up is another landmark in the ecosystem restoration initiative of our administration. It is aimed at improving livelihoods of communities in the South-South Region of the country.

9. Significantly, our administration has also approved a new National Forest Policy in July this year to ensure continuous socio-economic development that will provide optimal benefits to the people and government of Nigeria in a sustainably managed environment. Beyond this, we are considering the development of a National Mangrove Restoration project to deliver qualitative livelihood benefits to the Niger Delta region.

10. Furthermore, we are currently implementing a national program on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, a mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This programme is aimed at discouraging deforestation, conserving already existing forests, enhancing carbon stock and mitigating climate change impact. We have also facilitated the designation of Finima Nature Park in Bonny Island, Rivers State as the 12th Ramsar Site of international importance.

11. The government is equally incorporating biodiversity into tourism sector through a national programme targeted at combating illegal wildlife trade and trafficking in two pilot protected area sites, namely: Gashaka- Gumti National Park; and Yankari Games Reserve.

12. This initiative will contribute to the growth and development of a vibrant nature-based tourism sector that will prevent extinction of threatened species.

13. In fulfilment of our international obligations, Nigeria is expediting the process of accession to both the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation; as well as the Nagoya-Kuala Lampur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

14. Concerning Ocean governance and marine biodiversity protection, Nigeria is among the first twelve countries to sign onto the 30 by 30 Global Ocean Alliance. Accordingly, we have identified two viable sites for the establishment of Marine Protected Areas to help in the protection, conservation and management of both marine and coastal biodiversity resources.

15. Leveraging on the Strategic Action Plan of the Lake Chad Basin, Nigeria is spearheading sub-regional biodiversity action to mitigate insecurity, provide jobs, boost agricultural output, food security and reduce poverty.

16. Towards the delivery of our biodiversity aspiration, Nigeria has concentrated on the provision of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Protocols adopted under the Convention and other relevant multilateral environmental agreements into national environmental policies and programmes.

17. Let me reiterate the call for rededicated international engagement in support of sub-regional efforts to raise the $50 billion USD required to actualize the recharging of the Lake Chad. 18. Let me seize this opportunity to express Nigeria’s support for the development and implementation of a Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, building on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and lessons learnt from the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020.

19. To this end, Nigeria calls for alignment of all national, sub-regional and regional biodiversity ambitions with all Internationally-Agreed development agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

20. In order to ensure that no country is left behind in meeting the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, Nigeria enjoins advanced economies to support developing nations with capacity building, technology transfer and technical assistance. I firmly believe that traditional knowledge, innovation and the application of nature- based solutions are plausible steps to drive the biodiversity agenda.

21. To sum up, the Government of Nigeria will continue to explore the intrinsic values of biological diversity. We will more effectively implement all biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests, and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration for a better world.

22. I thank you.